We’re excited to share a new two-day workshop programme dedicated to supporting and developing artists, researchers, curators and arts workers.

Titled Turning Together, this development programme lends itself to alternative ways of communicating and working together, while exploring digital tools and culture. The name of the programme borrows from speculative fiction author Ursula K.Le Guin’s understanding of the ‘mother-tongue’ as a way of communicating rooted in listening, experience, exchange and ‘relating’ to one another.

We invite you to join us over one or two days, as we begin an exploration into conversational care; science-fiction; listening and somatic practice; real and digital movement; art production; worldbuilding; and pleasure activism.

Each day will provide opportunities to engage in collaboration, exchange, and discussion with invited artists, researchers, curators and change-makers. Our main focus is to open up conversations between people with diverse experiences, tapping into their individual and collective knowledge to explore innovative models of working and communicating.

Discover more about the workshops below!

Turning Together: Day 1

Sat 15 July / 10:30 - 22:00

£20-40, booking required

The first day will take place at Bidston Observatory, where you’ll look beyond the typical classroom to explore learning through alternative methods of conversation, care and somatic movement.

Workshops are led by artist Exodus, somatic practitioner Maxine Brown, and Liverpool poet Day Mattar, with an artist talk from multidisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome. Liverpool-based queer caterers Mr Berlin will provide lunch and dinner. The evening ends with a sound session programmed by local label House of Saturn.

→ Find out more

Turning Together: Day 2

Sat 29 July / 10:30 - 22:00

£20, booking required

Day 2 takes place here at FACT and is an opportunity to have a first-look at our new artist-studio space, Studio/Lab. Discover alternative ways of working in a series of engaging workshops hosted by speculative writer and pleasure activist Ama Josephine Budge, and artists Kerolaina Linkeviča, and Rae-Yen Song.

Gain insights from digital commissioners over lunch and hear from Liverpool Biennial 2023 curator Khanyisile Mbongwa in a talk and Q&A. The day ends with a special performance from artistic duo Laina Linkevica & Nicholas Delap (Studio Misti).

→ Find out more

Tickets

A day ticket costs £20, including access to workshops, food and refreshments. Find more information on the different ticketing options below. Please book your Day 1 and Day 2 tickets separately using the links provided.

Day 1 (Sat 15 July)

£20 Ticket → Book here

• Full day of workshops at Bidston Observatory
• Lunch & dinner provided

£40 Ticket → Book here

• All of the above plus an overnight stay in dormitory-style accommodation at Bidston Observatory

Please be aware the overnight stay at Bidston is in dormitory style, non-gendered rooms, and you can find more information here.

However, we take different awarenesses into account; if you have particular preferences let’s work out arrangements together. If you are booking an overnight stay, please email residency@fact.co.uk

Day 2 (Sat 29 July)

£20 Ticket → Book here

• Full day of workshops at FACT
• Lunch & snack provided
• Discount on dinner at either The Canteen at FACT, Maray, or Bundobust

Day 1 & Day 2 + Overnight Stay

£50 Ticket → Book here

• Access to both all-day workshops at Bidston (15 Jul) and FACT (29 Jul)
• Meals and refreshments as listed above
• Overnight stay in dormitory-style accommodation at Bidston Observatory
• Priority booking for an online workshop with artist, Melanie Crean